Evaluation Methodologies for Aid in Conflict

Abstract

Evaluating the impact of aid has been a core concern since the inception of foreign assistance. Notwithstanding the refinement in evaluation processes, consensus is yet to be reached on how to better assess effectiveness. More recently, the recognition of the challenges imposed by the so-called fragile states has reinforced the pressing need to understand how to increase the effectiveness of interventions. Despite the lack of agreement on the definition of state fragility, development organisations usually associate it with a lack of will or capability of the state to perform its core functions, as well as with violent conflict. The multidimensionality of the concept of fragility and the fact that it is highly context-specific further complicate the understanding of how to effectively intervene and, especially, how to ‘do no harm’. This has implications not only for the design of interventions but also for their evaluation. Evaluation Methodologies for Aid in Conflict hopes to contribute to these concerns by addressing the methodological difficulties associated with the evaluation of peacebuilding interventions in conflict settings. This goal is achieved in a clean and professional approach, rendering the book a valuable resource for those interested in this academic topic.